Cold and wet weather in April put a dampener on sales in traditional categories but boosted non-traditional ones at member garden centres according to the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) Barometer of Trade results. 

According to the latest from the ONS, the volume of retail sales in April increased by approximately 4.3% compared with the same month last year. 

Rose & Grey, an online furniture and home accessories retailer, is set to open a £50k bricks-and-mortar shop in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. 

The B&Q employee who created the now famous living wage petition has encouraged others to stand up to unfair employers. 

Britain's shop vacancy dropped to 12.4% in April, the lowest since December 2009, according to the Local Data Company. 

Administrators for BHS have announced that any bidders interested in purchasing the trouble retailer outfit would have to make an offer for the entire 164 store chain. 

A leading Midlands independent tile retail chain is celebrating a successful business year after winning a prestigious industry award. 

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has welcomed new member Henry Squire, the only independent family owned lock makers in the UK. 

Lords, with shops in and around the capital, has been voted Independent Retail Business of the Year and received its prize during an awards ceremony at the bira High Street Conference on 11 May. 

Consumer spending online increased by 2.5% year-on-year in April, according to the latest report from Visa Europe. 

British suppliers will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with garden and pet buyers from the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland at a special 'Meet the Buyer' hosted by the Gardenex and PetQuip export associations. 

Independent retailers bestowed prizes on star suppliers in the latest bira direct awards, presented at the bira High Street Conference on 11 May. 

Green Gate Security Access Systems has established itself as one of the UK's leading companies in its sector during its first decade in business - and is looking forward to more success in the years ahead. 

Introduced in 2015, the PetQuip Business Village is designed to offer pet suppliers wanting to build their presence within garden retailers, a platform to launch and showcase their latest ranges. Well-received in its inaugural year, the area is set to return at Glee 2016. 

DIY, hardware and garden retailers have given a mixed review of sales over the May Bank Holiday, with location playing a huge part in the dice roll of the British weather. 

Customers and staff at Stax Trade Centres were challenged to step up to the oche and face one of the biggest names in darts. 

Burgon & Ball is supporting a new cancer care centre in Manchester with garden tools for its spectacular glasshouse, a collaboration between architects Foster and Partners, and garden designers Dan Pearson and Lisa Rawley. 

Squire's Garden Centres has given £1,829.08 to the charity Greenfingers from the carrier bag charge. 

April saw a second month of flat sales for UK retailers, according to the BRC, but home accessories and furniture sales fared well "as retailers reaped the benefits of well-timed promotions." 

Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell has asked MPs to call off a "witch hunt" against him as an inquiry about the downfall of BHS gets underway.